Jewel support base and ornament

ABSTRACT

A jewel support base that supports a jewel, the jewel support base including: an annular portion provided around a hole portion at a center of the annular portion; a plurality of support pieces that protrude from a rim of the annular portion to a center of the hole portion, the rim being on a side where the hole portion is present, and that are arranged at an interval along the rim; and a plurality of first holding claws that extend upward from the annular portion, and that are arranged around the hole portion, the plurality of support pieces supporting a lower side of the jewel that is arranged in the hole portion, the plurality of first holding claws holding an outer periphery of the jewel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a jewel support base that supports ajewel such as a diamond, and to an ornament including this jewel supportbase in which the jewel is arranged.

BACKGROUND

The jewel support base that supports the jewel such as the diamond, aruby, or a sapphire needs to have a structure that securely fixes thejewel, that has an excellent design feature, and that does not impairbrilliance of the jewel. Patent Literature 1 discloses a jewel holdingframe that holds a jewel, the jewel holding frame having a reflectivebottom with a mirror-finished inner surface.

Patent Literature 2 discloses a jewel mounting structure in which ajewel is easily and precisely fixed to a metal frame for emphasizingbrilliance and a size of the jewel, and in which this decorative frameis accurately and securely fixed to a correct position on a jewelmounting base for an accessory.

Patent Literature 3 discloses an ornament including a plurality ofdecorative beads, and a plurality of claw portions that lock theplurality of these decorative beads, the ornament having a configurationin which an at least one decorative bead of the plurality of decorativebeads is locked by adjacent ones of the plurality of decorative beads.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-299036-   [PTL 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-119699-   [PTL 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-136747

SUMMARY

In the jewel support base, as support parts for the jewel are formed tobe thinner, presence of the jewel can be more emphasized. With this, alarge amount of light can be delivered to the jewel to enhancebrilliance of the jewel. However, forming the support parts to bethinner results in a decrease in support stability for the jewel ortheir strength.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a jewel support basehaving a structure that securely supports and fixes a jewel, that has anexcellent design feature, and that does not impair brilliance of thejewel.

Solution to Problem

According an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a jewelsupport base that supports a jewel, the jewel support base including:

-   -   an annular portion having a hole portion at a center of the        annular portion;    -   a plurality of support pieces        -   that protrude from a rim of the annular portion to a center            of the hole portion, the rim being on a side where the hole            portion is present, and        -   that are arranged at an interval along the rim; and    -   a plurality of first holding claws        -   that extend upward from the annular portion, and        -   that are arranged around the hole portion,    -   the plurality of support pieces supporting a lower side of the        jewel that is arranged in the hole portion,    -   the plurality of first holding claws holding an outer periphery        of the jewel.

With such a configuration, when the jewel is arranged in the holeportion of the annular portion, the jewel is supported from below by theplurality of support pieces that extend from the rim of the holeportion. In other words, the lower side of the jewel is supported by theplurality of support pieces, and hence the jewel need not be supportedwith use of an entirety of the rim of the annular portion. With this,the hole portion can be enlarged, which enables light to be sufficientlydelivered not only from above the jewel but also from below andsideways. In addition, since the outer periphery of the jewel is held bythe plurality of first holding claws, the jewel is securely fixed.

In the above-described jewel support base, the plurality of supportpieces are each preferred to be provided to extend obliquely upward.With this, the jewel arranged in the hole portion of the annular portionis supported in a manner of floating in the hole portion.

In the above-described jewel support base, the plurality of firstholding claws are preferred to be arranged at an equal interval aroundthe hole portion. With this, the jewel can be held in a good balancewith use of the plurality of first holding claws.

In the above-described jewel support base, corresponding ones of theplurality of first holding claws are preferred to be arranged on bothsides of each of the plurality of support pieces as the annular portionis viewed from above. With this, the jewel can be supported at threepoints from above and below with use of one of the plurality of supportpieces and two of the plurality of first holding claws, the two beingarranged on both the sides relative to this one of the plurality ofsupport pieces.

In the above-described jewel support base, the plurality of firstholding claws are each preferred to include a groove portion into whichan outer peripheral part of the jewel is fitted. With this, the outerperipheral part of the jewel is fitted into the groove portion of eachof the plurality of first holding claws, and the jewel can be securelyfixed.

In the above-described jewel support base, the annular portion mayinclude a recessed portion in which a small jewel is arranged. Withthis, the jewel that is arranged in the hole portion of the annularportion can be decorated with use of the small jewel that is arranged inthe recessed portion.

The above-described jewel support base may further include

-   -   a second holding claw that is provided on a side of the recessed        portion, the side of the recessed portion being opposite to the        side where the hole portion is present as the annular portion is        viewed from above, and    -   an outer periphery of the small jewel that is arranged in the        recessed portion may be held between a corresponding one of the        plurality of first holding claws and the second holding claw.        With this, the jewel and the small jewel can be efficiently        fixed with use of the same corresponding one of the plurality of        first holding claws that hold the jewel also as a claw that        holds the small jewel.

In the above-described jewel support base,

-   -   the recessed portion of the annular portion may include a        plurality of recessed portions,    -   the annular portion may include the second holding claw, and    -   the second holding claw of the annular portion may include a        plurality of second holding claws. With this, the small jewel        may include a plurality of small jewels that are arranged around        the jewel.

In the above-described jewel support base, a hole is preferred to beprovided at a center part of the recessed portion as the annular portionis viewed from above. With this, light can be sufficiently deliveredfrom below to the small jewel arranged in the recessed portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan ornament including:

-   -   the above-described jewel support base; and    -   the jewel that is arranged in the above-described jewel support        base. With such a configuration, the ornament in which the jewel        can be securely fixed, and in which light can be sufficiently        delivered not only from above the jewel but also from below and        sideways is provided.

According to the present invention, the jewel support base having thestructure that securely supports and fixes a jewel, that has anexcellent design feature, and that does not impair brilliance of thejewel can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a configuration of a jewelsupport base according to an embodiment of the present invention asviewed from above.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of the configuration of thejewel support base according to the embodiment as viewed from below.

(a) and (b) of FIG. 3 are respectively an exemplary plan view and anexemplary side view of the configuration of the jewel support baseaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a state in whichjewels are arranged in the jewel support base according to theembodiment.

(a) and (b) of FIG. 5 are exemplary views illustrating a method ofmanufacturing an ornament.

(a) and (b) of FIG. 6 are other exemplary views illustrating the methodof manufacturing the ornament.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the ornament.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ornament as viewed from below.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view of a jewel support baseaccording to Comparative Example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Below, an embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to the drawings. Note that, in the following description, thesame members are denoted by the same reference symbols to omit redundantdescription thereof.

(Configuration of Jewel Support Base)

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a configuration of a jewelsupport base according to this embodiment as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of the configuration of thejewel support base according to this embodiment as viewed from below.

(a) and (b) of FIG. 3 are respectively an exemplary plan view and anexemplary side view of the configuration of the jewel support baseaccording to this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a state in whichjewels are arranged in the jewel support base according to thisembodiment.

Note that, in this embodiment, for the sake of convenience ofdescription, a side where the jewels are arranged is referred to as an“upper side.” In addition, the jewels encompass simulated jewels.

A jewel support base 1 according to this embodiment includes an annularportion 10 having a hole portion 10 h at a center of the annular portion10, a plurality of support pieces 20 that protrude from a rim of theannular portion 10 to a center of the hole portion 10 h, the rim beingon a side where the hole portion 10 h is present, and a plurality offirst holding claws 31 that extend upward from the annular portion 10.

The annular portion 10 is a part to serve as a bezel that supports ajewel S1 with the jewel S1 arranged in the hole portion 10 h. Recessedportions 15 may be provided in the annular portion 10. In thisembodiment, the plurality of recessed portions 15 are provided at anequal interval along a circumferential direction of the annular portion10 as viewed from above. Small jewels S2 are arranged in the recessedportions 15, which are capable of decorating a periphery of the jewel S1that is arranged in the hole portion 10 h at the center.

When the jewel S1 is arranged in the hole portion 10 h of the annularportion 10, a lower side of the jewel S1 is supported by the pluralityof support pieces 20 that protrude from the rim of the annular portion10, the rim being on the side where the hole portion 10 h is present.The jewel support base 1 supports the lower side of the jewel S1 withuse of the plurality of support pieces 20, and hence it is unnecessaryto support the jewel S1 with use of an entirety of the rim of theannular portion 10, the rim being on the side where the hole portion 10h is present. With this, an area of members that support the lower sideof the jewel S1 can be reduced, and accordingly an area of the holeportion 10 h can be increased. When the hole portion 10 h can beenlarged, light can be sufficiently delivered from below the jewel S1 tothe jewel S1. In addition, the light is delivered also from between thesupport pieces 20 adjacent to each other, and hence the light can besufficiently delivered also to lateral sides of the jewel S1.

In this embodiment, the support pieces 20 that are provided to theannular portion 10 include four support pieces 20. These four supportpieces 20 are arranged at an interval of 90° as viewed from above. Withthis, the lower side of the jewel S1 is supported by the support pieces20 at four points. Although the area of the hole portion 10 h can beincreased as the number of the support pieces 20 becomes smaller,support strength decreases. Meanwhile, although the support strengthbecomes higher as the number of the support pieces 20 becomes larger,the area of the hole portion 10 h decreases. Therefore, the number ofthe support pieces 20 is preferred to be approximately three or more andeight or less.

The plurality of support pieces 20 are each preferred to be provided toextend obliquely upward from the rim of the annular portion 10, the rimbeing on the side where the hole portion 10 h is present. With this,when the lower side of the jewel S1 is supported with use of theplurality of support pieces 20, the jewel S1 is supported in a manner offloating in the hole portion 10 h.

The plurality of first holding claws 31 that are provided to the annularportion 10 hold an outer periphery of the jewel S1 arranged in the holeportion 10 h. In the jewel support base 1, the lower side of the jewelS1 arranged in the hole portion 10 h is supported with use of theplurality of support pieces 20, and the outer periphery of the jewel S1is held with use of the plurality of first holding claws 31. With this,the jewel S1 can be securely fixed.

The plurality of first holding claws 31 are preferred to be arranged atan equal interval around the hole portion 10 h. With this, the jewel S1can be held in a good balance with use of the plurality of first holdingclaws 31. In this embodiment, corresponding ones of the first holdingclaws 31 are arranged on both sides of each of the four support pieces20. Specifically, two of the first holding claws 31 are arrangedrespectively on both the sides of each of the four support pieces 20,and hence a total of eight first-holding claws 31 is provided. Theseeight first-holding claws 31 are arranged at an equal interval (intervalof 45 degrees) as viewed from above. With this, the jewel S1 can besecurely fixed, and a sense of balanced design can be provided.

The first holding claws 31 each include a groove portion 31 a into whichan outer peripheral part of the jewel S1 arranged in the hole portion 10h is fitted. For example, when the jewel S1 is a brilliant-cut diamond,the groove portion 31 a is formed in conformity with a girdle part. Withthis, the groove portion 31 a of each of the first holding claws 31 isfitted to the girdle part, and the outer periphery of the jewel S1 canbe securely held and fixed.

When the recessed portions 15 are provided in the annular portion 10,second holding claws 32 are provided on a side of the recessed portions15, the side being opposite to the side where the hole portion 10 h ispresent as the annular portion 10 is viewed from above. The secondholding claws 32 are provided upright on an outer peripheral side of theannular portion 10, and perform a function to hold the small jewels S2between the second holding claws 32 and the first holding claws 31 thatare provided upright on an inner peripheral side of the annular portion10.

In this embodiment, the recessed portions 15 that are provided in theannular portion 10 include eight recessed portions 15 at an equalinterval, and the second holding claws 32 are provided respectively tothe recessed portions 15. As the annular portion 10 is viewed fromabove, the eight second-holding claws 32 are located at positions thatare shifted by a half pitch in the circumferential direction from theeight first-holding claws 31. With this, the small jewels S2 can each beheld at three points with use of two of the first holding claws 31 andone of the second holding claws 32 with the small jewels S2 arranged inthe recessed portions 15.

As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 and (b) of FIG. 3 , the firstholding claws 31 each include groove portions 31 b into which outerperipheral parts of the small jewels S2 arranged in the recessedportions 15 are fitted. The outer peripheral parts of the small jewelsS2 arranged in the recessed portions 15 are fitted into the grooveportions 31 b of the two of the first holding claws 31 provided to facethe recessed portions 15. For example, when the small jewel S2 is thebrilliant-cut diamond, the groove portions 31 b are formed in conformitywith the girdle part. The first holding claws 31 are used not only asholders for the jewel S1 but also as holders for the small jewels S2.Thus, the jewel S1 and the small jewels S2 can be efficiently fixed withuse of the same first-holding claws 31.

In addition, a hole 15 h is provided at a center part of each of therecessed portions 15. With this, light can be sufficiently deliveredfrom below to the small jewels S2 arranged in the recessed portions 15.

An ornament 100 is constituted by arranging the jewel S1 and the smalljewels S2 in the jewel support base 1 according to this embodiment(refer to FIG. 4 ). In the ornament 100 using the jewel support base 1,the lower side of the jewel S1 is supported by the plurality of supportpieces 20, and hence light can be sufficiently delivered from below thejewel S1 and sideways to the jewel S1. Further, the ornament 100 inwhich the jewel S1 can be securely fixed with use of the support pieces20 and the first holding claws 31, in which the small jewels S2 can besecurely fixed with use of the first holding claws 31 and the secondholding claws 32, and in which the light can be sufficiently deliverednot only from above the jewel S1 and the small jewels S2 but also frombelow and sideways is provided.

(Method of Manufacturing Ornament)

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are exemplary views illustrating a method ofmanufacturing the ornament.

First, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 5 , the jewel support base 1according to this embodiment is prepared. Then, as illustrated in (b) ofFIG. 5 , the jewel S1 is arranged in the hole portion 10 h provided atthe center of the annular portion 10 of the jewel support base 1. Atthis time, distal parts of the first holding claws 31 have not yet beenbent. By pressing the jewel S1 from above into an inner side relative tothe plurality of first holding claws 31, the outer peripheral part ofthe jewel S1 is fitted into the groove portions 31 a of the firstholding claws 31. Further, the small jewels S2 are arranged respectivelyin the plurality of recessed portions 15 of the annular portion 10.

Then, as illustrated in (a) and (b) of FIG. 6 , the distal parts of thefirst holding claws 31 are bent toward the jewel S1 so that the jewel S1is held. With this, the lower side of the jewel S1 is supported by thesupport pieces 20, and the upper side of the jewel S1 is held by thefirst holding claws 31. Further, distal parts of the second holdingclaws 32 are bent toward the small jewels S2 so that the small jewels S2are held. With this, the small jewels S2 are pressed against the firstholding claws 31, and fixed by the second holding claws 32. When thejewel S1 and the small jewels S2 are fixed to the jewel support base 1,the ornament 100 is completed.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the ornament.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ornament as viewed from below.

The ornament 100 using the jewel support base 1 according to thisembodiment has a design in which the jewel S1 is arranged at the center,and in which the eight small jewels S2 are arranged therearound. Asviewed from above, the jewel S1 and the small jewels S2 are fixed in agood balance by the eight first-holding claws 31 and the eightsecond-holding claws 32.

Meanwhile, as the ornament 100 is viewed from below, the jewel S1arranged in the hole portion 10 h is supported by the four supportpieces 20. Thus, light is delivered to the jewel S1 not only via thecenter of the hole portion 10 h but also through between the supportpieces 20. The light is delivered to the small jewels S2 through theholes 15 h of the recessed portions 15. In this way, the light is notunnecessarily blocked by the support member for the jewel S1 and thesmall jewels S2, and the light is sufficiently delivered not only fromabove the jewel S1 and the small jewels S2 but also from below andsideways. With this, brilliance of the jewel S1 and the small jewels S2is exhibited.

Comparative Example

FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view of a jewel support baseaccording to Comparative Example.

This jewel support base 1B according to Comparative Example includes anannular portion 10B having the hole portion 10 h at a center of theannular portion 10B, a plurality of first holding claws 31B that extendupward from the annular portion 10B, and that are arranged around thehole portion 10 h, a plurality of recessed portions 15B that areprovided in the annular portion 10B, and second holding claws 32B thatare provided on a side of the recessed portions 15B as the annularportion 10B is viewed from above, the side being opposite to the sidewhere the hole portion 10 h is present. The jewel support base 1B isconfigured to support the lower side of the jewel S1 with use of anentirety of a rim of the annular portion 10 under the state in which thejewel S1 is arranged in the hole portion 10 h, the rim being on the sidewhere the hole portion 10 h is present. In other words, unlike the jewelsupport base 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, thejewel support base 1B does not include the support pieces 20.

In the jewel support base 1B according to Comparative Example, since thejewel S1 is supported with use of the entirety of the rim of the annularportion 10B, the rim being on the side where the hole portion 10 h ispresent, the area of the hole portion 10 h is smaller than that in thejewel support base 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. As a result, in the jewel support base 1B according toComparative Example, an amount of light to be collected from below andsideways to the jewel S1 is smaller than that in the jewel support base1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, since the configuration in which the jewel S1 is supportedwith use of the entirety of the rim of the annular portion 10B isemployed, the rim being on the side where the hole portion 10 h ispresent, an amount of a material of the annular portion 10B is largerthan that of the annular portion 10. Thus, the jewel support base 1according to the embodiment of the present invention is lighter inweight than the jewel support base 1B according to Comparative Example.As an example, the jewel support base 1B according to ComparativeExample has a weight of 0.4 g when made of silver, and the jewel supportbase 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a weightof 0.17 g when made of silver as well. Depending on design, the jewelsupport base 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention canbe approximately 30% to 60% lighter in weight than the jewel supportbase 1B according to Comparative Example.

As described hereinabove, the jewel support base 1 to be providedaccording to the embodiment of the present invention is capable ofhaving a structure that securely supports and fixes the jewel S1, thatis excellent in design, and that does not deteriorate the brilliance ofthe jewel S1.

Note that, the present invention are not limited to the examplesdescribed above in the embodiment of the present invention or to itsapplication examples. For example, although the jewel support base 1exemplified in the embodiment of the present invention enables theplurality of small jewels S2 to be arranged around the jewel S1, thejewel support base 1 may enable one small jewel S2 to be arranged, orthe jewel support base 1 may enable the jewel S1 to be arranged alone.

In addition, components to be added as appropriate by persons skilled inthe art to the above-described embodiments or to its applicationexamples, components to be removed as appropriate by the persons fromthe above-described embodiments or from its application examples, designmodification to be made as appropriate by the persons to the components,or combinations of features of the embodiments to be made as appropriateby the persons are also encompassed within the scope of the presentinvention as long as the gist of the present invention is included.

The present application claims the benefit of priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2021-32175 filed on Mar. 1, 2021, the entirecontents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-32175 are incorporatedherein by reference.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A jewel support base that supports a jewel, thejewel support base comprising: an annular portion having a hole portionat a center of the annular portion; a plurality of support pieces thatprotrude from a rim of the annular portion to a center of the holeportion, the rim on a side where the hole portion is present, and thesupport pieces are further arranged at an interval along the rim; and aplurality of first holding claws that extend upward from the annularportion are arranged around the hole portion, the plurality of supportpieces supporting a lower side of the jewel that is arranged in the holeportion, and the plurality of first holding claws holding an outerperiphery of the jewel.
 12. The jewel support base according to claim11, wherein each of the plurality of support pieces are provided toextend obliquely upward.
 13. The jewel support base according to claim11, wherein each of the plurality of first holding claws are arranged atan equal interval around the hole portion.
 14. The jewel support baseaccording to claim 11, wherein corresponding ones of the plurality offirst holding claws are arranged on both sides of each of the pluralityof support pieces as the annular portion is viewed from above.
 15. Thejewel support base according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of firstholding claws each include a groove portion into which an outerperipheral part of the jewel is fitted.
 16. The jewel support baseaccording to claim 11, wherein the annular portion includes a recessedportion in which a small jewel is arranged.
 17. The jewel support baseaccording to claim 16, further comprising a second holding claw that isprovided on a side of the recessed portion, the side of the recessedportion being opposite to the side where the hole portion is present asthe annular portion is viewed from above, wherein an outer periphery ofthe small jewel that is arranged in the recessed portion is held betweena corresponding one of the plurality of first holding claws and thesecond holding claw.
 18. The jewel support base according to claim 17,wherein the recessed portion of the annular portion includes a pluralityof recessed portions, wherein the annular portion includes the secondholding claw, and wherein the second holding claw of the annular portionincludes a plurality of second holding claws.
 19. The jewel support baseaccording to claim 16, wherein a hole is provided at a center part ofthe recessed portion as the annular portion is viewed from above.
 20. Anornament, comprising: the jewel support base according to claim 11; andthe jewel that is arranged in the jewel support base.